The interview will be conducted Sunday and Monday on the campaign trail and broadcast beginning Monday, Sept. 29, on the “CBS Evening News” and continuing Tuesday on “The Early Show” and online. Couric has been loose, fun and funny in recent interviews at the political conventions, seemingly regaining her confidence on the air and off. The chemistry should be intriguing.

On Thursday, Oct. 2, Palin and Senator Joe Biden will debate in St. Louis, with PBS’ Gwen Ifill moderating.

You just know Charlie Gibson has met with several generations of heads of state, has used his passport extensively and knows what the Bush Doctrine is. (You know, the Bush Doctrine: “Shoot. Ready. Aim.”)

Clearly, Gibson knows the territory and can pronounce the names with ease. We’ve seen him do it, night after night.

As Gibson sat knee-to-knee with Sarah Palin

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in the first interview of her life on the international political stage, he proved he could be tough, she proved she’s a quick study. Meanwhile, who could help wondering why the country doesn’t just go with a proven television statesman or -woman?

The media scrutiny of the Palin interviews by ABC News continues as further portions roll out tonight. What did you see? Was Gibson disapproving? Was Palin flumoxed? Did he land unfair “gotcha” questions? Did she skate by on “a blizzard of words,” as he put it?

With 15,000 media folk at the DNC, one reporter stands out for specifically tracking the story of lobbyists and money.

Credit ABC News’ Brian Ross with cutting through the orgy to the real story of the convention. He’s doing four special reports on “ABC World News with Charles Gibson” this week, “The Influence Game in Denver,”

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and another four from the Republican shindig in Minn.-St. Paul next week.

So far, we’ve seen Ross’ camera peeking through the window of the Denver Art Museum to spy on Senators and other well-known revelers at Steve Farber’s party (off limits to cameras). Tonight we’ll see Ross being thrown out of Hotel Teatro.

“They even tried to keep us from the public sidewalk,” he said.

“The parties run right through the speeches. While Ted Kennedy was talking, a jazz band was playing and drinks were flowing,” Ross said.

Both Parties are equally involved, he reports; the lobbyists don’t care who wins as long as they have access. “The lobbyists just pack up the champagne and caviar and move to Minneapolis over the weekend.”

Ross has provided this journalistic money chase at every convention since 1996.

Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos will be in town for the convention.

ABC is the last of the networks to release its plans for convention coverage.

According to a releasee: ABC’s coverage kicks off Sunday, August 24 with a special edition of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” originating from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Beginning Monday, August 25 and continuing through the week, all of ABC’s daily broadcasts – “Good Morning America,” “World News with Charles Gibson” and “Nightline” — will originate from Denver. “GMA” co-anchors Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts will report from the convention sites – the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field — as will Charles Gibson for “World News” and Terry Moran for “Nightline.”

Wednesday night’s debate between the Democratic presidential candidates broadcast on ABC was by far the highest-rated debate of the campaign season.

Some 10.7 million viewers tuned in the debate moderated by Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous, giving ABC the best ratings its had in months and beating the previous debate viewing record by double digits. In a few markets, it even beat “American Idol” on Fox. Airing opposite “American Idol” and an original episode of CBS’ “Criminal Minds,” the debate retained 96% of its audience.

ABC News dropped “Tonight” from the title of its evening broadcast to reflect the 24/7 quality on the web; now it’s “World News with Charles Gibson.” Gibson spoke to critics via satellite from Cyprus, portside in short sleeves and kakhis.
“I suspect Peter never forgot his passport,” Gibson said, as he did this morning. Read more…

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.